The Blazers are in the middle of the class of the Western conference rankings, but that doesn’t have to mean anything. The West is so crowded, and so tight, that a two or three game losing streak can take you out of the playoffs. Luckily for the Blazers, their January schedule is light and favorable. Except for a three game stretch when they play the Clippers, Spurs and the Grizzlies, the Blazers play mostly weaker teams during January. That could be an excellent chance for the team to pile up some wins, and move up in the rankings. One thing to keep in mind is the division rankings. The Blazers are way ahead of the Thunder, but Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are catching steam, and they might make up. Currently, the Northwest division is the second most lopsided in the NBA, after the Atlantic where the Raptors have the title wrapped up. Here is Blazers’ January home games at the Moda Center. preview.

Blazers vs Hawks, January 3, Average price $53

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the better teams in the East, but they would be hard pressed to compete with the elite in the West. The duel would provide an interesting matchup at the point guard position, as well on the center position. Al Horford is one of the most underrated big men in the league, and he is so skilled, that Robin Lopez will have his hands full. Trail Blazers vs Hawks tickets start at $27.00.

Blazers vs Lakers, January 5, Average price $82

There was a time when the duel between the Lakers and the Trail Blazers were significant. Nevertheless, the fans in Rip City will always boo Kobe Bryant, and hate him for the damage he has done to the Blazers. They do recognize his talent, but they do not like him. Not that Kobe loves Portland, but he enjoys playing there.Trail Blazers vs Lakers tickets start at $37.00.

Blazers vs Heat, January 8, Average price $130

Bosh and Aldridge are very similar players nowadays, with Bosh sporting a bigger range than Aldridge. Anyway, their duel is one to watch for, as it might turn out to be a jump shooting contest. Gone are the days when big men were banging in the post. Nowadays, power forwards are more shooters than bangers, and Bosh and Aldridge are two of the best in the league.Trail Blazers vs Heat tickets start at $29.00.

Blazers vs Magic, January 10, Average price $43

The Magic might serve as the appetizer for the Blazers, who travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers the following night. An easy win would do wonders for the Blazers, who will go through a tough stretch after this game. Elfrid Payton is the new point guard rookie to watch for, and he will have the chance to learn firsthand from Damian Lillard.Trail Blazers vs Magic tickets start at $26.00.

Blazers vs Clippers, January 16, Average price $76

This game marks a three game stretch in which Portland might go 0-3, or 3-0. In both cases, it will show how good the Blazers really are. After they play the Clippers at home, they go for a back to back set in San Antonio and Memphis. With the Clippers in town, look to see who will dominate more, Blake Griffin or LaMarcus Aldridge? Nicholas Batum might be the underrated player in this duel, as the Clippers are low on quality wings, leaving Batum free to dominate and assert his will.Trail Blazers vs Clippers tickets start at $27.00.

Blazers vs Kings, January 19, Average price $51

After the rough stretch, Blazers will be more than happy to welcome the Kings, and the mess they are in. After starting the season strong, the Kings are falling behind, and the coaching change might not be the answer. One problem for the Blazers might be Boogie Cousins, who should be healthy for this duel. Sacramento won the first matchup between the teams.Trail Blazers vs Kings tickets start at $18.00.

Blazers vs Celtics, January 22, Average price $62

The Trail Blazers won the first duel with the Celtics, at the Garden, but now they are playing on the second night of a back to back set. They play in Phoenix the previous night, while the Celtics are more rested. Lillard might have troubles in this game, with Boston’s bevy of guards able to pest him. Rondo, Bradley and Smart can all play point guard, and all three of them are defensive bulldogs.Trail Blazers vs Celtics tickets start at $18.00.

Blazers vs Wizards, January 24, Average price $49

Few teams boast a big frontline as the Wizards do, and an excellent back court in the same time. The Wizards can hurt teams in many ways, but their main weapon is John Wall. His length and quickness can be a problem for Lillard, but he has shown to find a way to contribute in other areas.Trail Blazers vs Hawks tickets start at $30.00.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a tough decision and job to do. On one hand, they are way out of the playoffs. They are 4 games behind the 8th ranked Pelicans, but the Thunder are bound to get to that spot and improve even more. In order to get to the playoffs, the Lakers might actually have to make up for the difference with the 7th ranked team currently, which is Dallas. They are almost 10 games behind. If they fail to make the playoffs, it will be the FIRST time in Lakers history that the team has missed the playoffs in consecutive years. On the other hand, their first round pick is top 5 protected, and that might be the best chance for the team to get a quality player. If the draft is now, they will pick 7th, unless they jump into the top 3 by luck. Being in limbo is not something the Lakers are used to do, but they will have to do it this season. Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan on the scoring list, so the only reason left to watch the Lakers this season is, well, entertainment. No matter how bad they are, the Lakers are a show to watch any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. Here is a look at Lakers ticket prices and their January schedule.

Arguably the best team in the West, or the second best team comes to Staples Center. Marc Gasol is an MVP candidate. Yes, that is the same Gasol Lakers traded for Pau. But, Pau brought the team 2 titles, and the other Gasol is now blossoming. The Lakers did beat the Spurs this year, so they can handle strong teams from time to time.

In some parallel world, this would be a homecoming for Paul George. Sadly, the Los Angeles native is hurt, which might be good news for the Lakers. The Pacers are another team in a limbo, giving the Lakers a fair chance for a win. They lost the first duel with the Pacers in Indiana.

Another very winnable game for the Lakers as they host the Magic, a team that was supposed to improve this season, but it hasn’t happened yet. One good reason to tune into this game is Elfrid Payton and his haircut. Not that he is not a good player, but his haircut is fun to see.

The Lakers have yet to play the Blazers this season. Two years ago, the teams were on the opposite side, as Lakers were trying to win the West, while the Blazers were hoping to make the playoffs. Things change fast in the NBA. At least you get to see Kobe going at the Blazers, one team he loves to compete with, both in LA and in Portland.

Last year, this was a LeBron vs Kobe matchup. This year, it is back to Kobe vs Wade, two shooting guards that are way past their prime, but still very much serviceable players. Their duels over the years are legendary, and there won’t be many more of those duels.

The Lakers finish their four game home streak with the Cavaliers, hosting James, Irving and Love. This game should provide tons of excitement, as the King is coming to LA, after being free agent this summer. LeBron has ditched the Lakers few times by now. But the more interesting question might be Kevin Love, who is on the Lakers radar as a free agent target this summer.

Lakers vs Rockets, January 25, Starting price $39, Average price $105
The teams split the first two games. But the more interesting moment was Kobe calling Dwight soft during the first matchup. Until Kobe plays for the Lakers, and Dwight is wearing a Houston uniform, the duels with the Rockets will be intriguing. Not to mention that James Harden has unofficially taken over the title best shooting guard in the league, and Kobe always tries to prove something.

The Wizards spanked the Lakers in their first duel, with Bradley Beal going for 27 points and Chris Humphries dominating the boards with 20 rebounds. Those two things cannot happen again if the Lakers hope to get a win.

The teams will meet for Christmas, and it has become a standard in the past years the Lakers and the Bulls to play on Christmas. Pau Gasol is coming back to town, after he left to play with a contending team. It looks like he made the right choice, but Kobe doesn’t forget and forgive, even friends and close partners such as Pau was to him.

For the first two weeks of January, the Clippers are playing at home. They won’t have to leave Los Angeles starting from Christmas, when they host the Warriors, and play 9 games at home from there on. That will be a great chance for the team to pile up some wins, and rise up in the rankings. They have small chance to win the division and catch the Warriors, but this was supposed to be the year they are legitimate title contender. The Clippers showed flashes of their potential during a long winning streak in late November – early December, but then lost few games. One thing is certain, their pick and roll offense with CP3 and Blake Griffin is deadly, but the problem are role players, and their lack of true small forward.

The chance to rack up wins starts with the first game of 2015, when the Clippers host the lowly Sixers. There is no worse team than Philadelphia for the past two seasons. However, the Sixers have scared few teams here and there, and even pushed Memphis to OT once. Michael Carter Williams is playing better and better, and his duel with CP3 is bound to bring entertainment.

Both teams are playing good, unselfish basketball at the moment. There are few direct matchups worth watching, such as Teague vs Paul, Griffin vs Millsap, and even how will Deandre Jordan handle Al Horford. With both teams pushing the tempo, this one might turn into a highlight reel.

The Clippers won the first matchup, but it was a close game. Every time the teams meet, history and fate haunts them. CP3 could have been a Lakers player if it wasn’t for Donald Sterling. Now, he has transformed the Clippers into a championship contender, while the Lakers are headed for the lottery. There was a time the Lakers were the talk of the city, but things have changed.

The West is so crowded, that games like this might decide whether a team ranks in the top 4 or not. While there is a notion that positioning is not much important in the West, since teams 1-8 are legitimate contenders, having home court advantage helps. Both the Mavs and the Clippers are bound for the playoffs, but their positioning is unknown. .

The last game of the home streak for the Clippers is a second night of a back to back set and the visitors are the Miami Heat. No longer a championship contender, the Heat are a dangerous team nevertheless. Griffin has increased his midrange game, and expanded his range, just like Chris Bosh did few years ago. Now, two players that were bangers in the post shoot mid-range jumpers and 3s. But Griffin still dunks, and Bosh might find himself on the opposite side of a poster.

Kyrie Irving is becoming one of the best point guards in the league, a scary thought for teams other than the Cavs. With LeBron there to guide him, Irving can take his game to a level that few can imagine, maybe even greater than CP3. For the time being, Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league. But the Clippers might have problems in this game, given their lack of small forward. James might have a layup fest if there is no one to check him. Matt Barnes sure is not that player anymore.

In terms of controlling the tempo, passing and defense, Rajon Rondo and CP3 are very close. They are true floor generals, and point guards in the rightful sense. Which one will manage to prevail and assert his dominance is left to be seen. But Rondo is known to get extra motivation when going against players such as Paul.

Whether this will be a Deron Williams vs CP3 duel is left to be seen. The Nets have placed their entire roster on the trading block. The team is in a mess, and the Clippers would be wise to take full advantage of the situation.

Clippers vs Nuggets, January 26, Starting price $14, Average price $55
The Nuggets are the Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde of the season. They go on a winning streak, then on a losing streak in a matter of days. They play inspiring basketball, then the next few games, they look like they are waiting for the summer. Depending on which team shows up, this might be extremely entertaining duel between CP3 and Lawson, and Faried and Griffin. Or, the Clippers might roll over the Nuggets.

#9. Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors 03/04/15 Air Canada CenterTo sit in Courtside South Row A is $4645.00 per ticket for the Cavs vs Raptors game on March 3rd at the Air Canada Center which is 4789% higher than the Toronto Raptors regular season ticket price average of $95.00 for home games.

#8. Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors 01/09/15 Oracle ArenaVIP Courtside Row BB is $5805.00 per ticket to see the Cavaliers at the Oracle Arena which is 7438% higher than the average Golden State Warriors ticket price of $77.00 per ticket for a game at the Oracle.

#7. Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers 02/08/15 Quicken Loans ArenaTo witness Kobe and Lebron meet on the court in Cleveland will cost $5,805 per ticket to sit in Courtside Section 7 row 1 is which is 2677% higher than the Cleveland Cavaliers regular season price average of $209.00 per ticket

#7. Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls 02/12/15 United CenterCourtside South Row A $6,447 per ticket to see the Cavs and Bulls at the United Center which is 6040% higher than the Chicago Bulls ticket price average of $105.00 per ticket. One can only wonder what the ticket price would be if it were Lebron vs Jordan.

#5. Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks 02/1/15 Madison Square Garden To see the reunion of Phil Jackson, Derrick Fisher and Kobe Bryant will cost you $9,508 per ticket to sit VIP Courtside 12 row AA which is 7823% higher than the New York Knicks regular game season ticket price average of $120.00 per ticket for games at MSG.

#4. Los Angeles Clippers vs New York Knicks 03/01/15 Madison Square GardenTo see Blake Griffin and CP3 in the Big Apple and sit in VIP Courtside 12 row AA will cost you $9,572.00 per ticket which is 7876% higher than the New York Knicks regular game season ticket price average of $120.00 per ticket for games at Madison Square Garden.

#3. Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Lakers 01/15/15 Staples Center When King James and the Cav’s come to Kobe’s house to play it will run you $10,671.00 per ticket for Courtside Row 1 which is 11498% higher than the Los Angeles Lakers ticket price average of $92.00 per ticket of home games at the Staples Center.

#2. Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks 02/22/15 Madison Square GardenYou are pretty much guaranteed to sit with a lot of A-Listers when the Cavaliers and Knicks play at the MSG.To sit with them will run you $13,317.25 per ticket for VIP Courtside 10 row AA which is 10997% higher than the New York Knicks regular season game ticket price average of $120.00 per ticket.

(Drum roll please….)

#1. Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat 12/25/14 American Airlines Arena The most expensive NBA game is: Christmas Day and the return of King James to the American Airlines Arena will cost you $25,138.00 per ticket to sit Courtside North Row AA for the Cavliers vs Heat which is 43241% higher than the Miami Heat regular season game ticket price average of $58.00 per ticket for the 2014-15 Heat home games.

10 Most Expensive NBA Games Ticket prices based off of secondary ticket market averages as of 12/07/14.

Every basketball fan knows who LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are, but many less dedicated fans probably would not recognize a smaller name player such as Marquis Teague. Many of these players hold their teams together; however, go unnoticed to the common basketball fan. Here’s a list of the most underrated, unappreciated players in the NBA for this coming season:

Mirza Teletovic: At Brooklyn Nets games, Teletovic lighting up the court with his spot on shooting is a common sight; however, unless you are a big Nets fan you have probably never heard of him. Teletovic is a matchup problem for defenders because he can knock down shots from basically anywhere on the court—especially from behind the ark.

Anderson Varajeo: Varajeo is a fan favorite in Cleveland—he is an exciting player to watch, a terrific offensive and defensive rebounder, and a top-notch rim protector. He is an all-around team player and one of LeBron’s favorite teammates, and in James’s absense he has provided the veteran leadership the Cavaliers needed. He is a big reason that Cleveland improved every year after James left.

Luis Scola: Scola has played for three teams and seems to fly under the radar on each one. Scola has plays a good amount coming off the bench, and is very efficient with the time he gets on the court. His overall numbers have dropped slightly with the Indiana Pacers since he does not get as much playing time as he used to, but he is still a terrific inside shooter and team player.

Larry Sanders: Sanders is arguably the best shot blocker in the NBA, and his injury problems this past season were a big part of Milwaukee’s horrible record. With Sanders healthy and Jabari Parker joining the squad, the Bucks should see some decent improvements this season.

Omer Asik: The New Orleans Pelicans acquired the big man from the Houston Rockets this offseason, and he should prove to be a great addition to the team. Asik has always struggled on the offensive side of the ball, but he has improved significantly as his career has progressed, and he has always been a great defender in the NBA. Now that he will be playing alongside Anthony Davis his talent may start to be recognized.

Nick Collison: Anyone that watches the Oklahoma City Thunder regularly could tell you that Collison is one of the hardest workers in the NBA. Although he does not score much, Collison hustles on every play and is one of the better defenders in the league. The Thunder can always count on him for an energy boost late in the game.

Chris Bosh: Bosh may have been part of Miami’s “Big 3”; however, he was always the least respected of the three guys. With LeBron leaving the Miami Heat, Bosh will be the go to guy in Miami this season; so he will be putting up the kind of numbers he used to with the Toronto Raptors and hopefully earn the respect he deserves as a super star in the NBA.

At this time of the offseason in the NBA, most of the top free agents have already found their new teams. We already know which will the most powerful teams in either conference will be and how the new balances across the league will be. Let’s take a look at the players who were searched the most on the Internet during the month of June.

It comes as no surprise that on the top spot we find LeBron James. June was the month in which the Miami Heat squared off against the San Antonio Spurs and eventually lost the NBA Championship. But it was also the month in which tons of speculation and rumors about LeBron’s Decision 2.0 arose. Millions of fans searched news about LeBron, trying to find a hint about his next destination. Eventually, his decision was announced in July.

Kobe Bryant lies at the second spot. Although the Black Mamba missed the biggest chunk of the 2013 – 2014 season he still had an influence in the course of the Los Angeles Lakers and their decisions for the future. Kobe was active during the Lakers’ free agency moves, which however didn’t end up with a superstar signing.

Kevin Durant came up third in the list, followed by Tim Duncan. The two of them squared off against each other during the , where Duncan and the Spurs prevailed.

It’s notable that at the fifth spot we find Michael Jordan. Of course, His Airness is no longer playing the game but as the owner of the Charlotte Hornets (formerly known as the Charlotte Bobcats), he still has a significant role in the league. Jordan always draws attention from the fans and the media and the recent changes in Charlotte together with the second playoff berth in franchise history increased the interest from the entire NBA world.

Carmelo Anthony lies on the sixth spot. Melo was the second best free agent this summer, behind LeBron. Although he tested free agency, he ended up re-signing with the New York Knicks. Of course, until mid-June, when the NBA Finals were still under way, Anthony’s name wasn’t that much searched on the Internet.

Dwyane Wade and Tony Parker occupy spots seven and eight in the most searched basketball athletes of the month of June. Again, this was widely expected, since the Heat and the Spurs made it all the way till the NBA Finals.

It’s notable that Lamar Odom entered the top 10 and ranked ninth in the list of Google’s most searched basketball players for June. Odom continues to draw much attention from fans and media across the globe. His marriage with Khloe Kardashian, his off-court issues and his bunch of unsuccessful efforts to return to NBA action are good enough reasons for the attention levels to remain high. Odom reportedly had discussions with some teams around the league about a possibility of a return to the NBA.

Kevin Love finished at No.10. In fact, the megastar forward is now drawing even more attention, as he is the next superstar who will most probably switch teams. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been exploring trade scenarios for a few months now. Now that LeBron and Melo all off the board, Love is the center of trade discussions in the NBA.

“It must be the shoes” because although Michael Jordan retired from the NBA in 2003 he still leads Lebron, Kobe, Durant and Duncan in being searches since 2004.

Sports fans love to play the “what if” game. The latest “what if” in Los Angeles is what if the Lakers didn’t decide to extend Kobe Bryant for 2 years and $48 million? Or what if the Lakers superstar, like Tim Duncan, decided to assist the Lakers in their quest to attract another high paid superstar and took less money? With the big three in Miami opting out of their contracts and potentially taking less money to play together, like they did four years ago, Kobe Bryant now takes up a third of the Lakers salary cap. The massive contract that Jim Buss and the Lakers organization gave Bryant was based on what he’s accomplished as a Lakers player. As one of the greatest players off all time and a five-time NBA champion Bryant was certainly due loyalty from the Lakers organization. Whether that loyalty owed Bryant the biggest contract in the NBA is another argument. When Bryant signed the contract it was immediately questioned. Now, with the Lakers struggling to attract a top free agent, the massive contract is being questioned even more. With the Lakers unlikely to re-sign Pau Gasol, or sign Carmelo Anthony, the franchise is due for another difficult season. In the midst of another potential tough upcoming season is the fact that Bryant’s contract gives the team less flexibility. Which leads to the question: what if the Lakers didn’t re-sign Bryant?

KOBE

Before they inked Kobe to the two year deal the Lakers had the option to amnesty their superstar. If the Lakers decided to part ways with Bryant they would have had just one contract on the books for this coming season, Steve Nash. With millions of dollars to spend the Lakers could have been major players for one or two top free agents, and a host of second tier players to fill out the roster. It would have been a grand experiment, but similar to what Pat Riley accomplished in Miami four off-seasons ago. The Lakers mystique could have made them a major player for Lebron and Carmelo, or both. With Julius Randle acquired in the draft, the Lakers had a real opportunity to attract top tier free agents.

Of course it’s an interesting “what if”, but the idea of letting Bryant go would have been an impossible decision to sell to the fan base. Bryant’s loyalty to the organization and incredible accomplishments made the idea of amnesty impossible. He deserves to play his entire career with one franchise, like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

KOBE

While using the amnesty clause on Bryant was a non-starter, signing him to such a massive deal is a questionable decision. Bryant has made a remarkable amount of money in salary and endorsements over his career. The decision to reward Bryant for his career accomplishments and keep him as the highest player in the league may be out of loyalty, but it’s arguably wasn’t necessary at this point in his career.

You can’t fault Bryant for taking the money, but the example of Duncan’s decision to accept a $10 million deal is interesting. In order to allow the San Antonio Spurs to keep their championship roster in tact Duncan took a pay cut, for the good of the team. If Bryant would have taken a similar deal the Lakers would have had the ability to sign two max free agents to team with Bryant.

KOBE

Heading into next season the Lakers have no idea what Bryant they’ll have back. Since he entered the league at 18 Bryant has a tremendous amount of miles on his legs, not to mention a torn Achilles. If he struggles with injuries like he did last season the Lakers will likely struggle as well. With two years and $48 million on the contract he signed, the Lakers need a healthy Bryant.

Time will tell if the Bryant contract is an albatross. At the very worst it could set the teams re-build back a couple of seasons. If Bryant, who’s known for his incredible work ethic and competitiveness, can return and prove the doubters wrong the contract could turn out to be a positive.

It all depends on what roster the Lakers build around Bryant, starting with a head coach. If Carmelo Anthony decides to jump from New York and join Bryant the massive deal may turn out to be a positive. If not, the Lakers might be in for another tough season.

LA LAKERS KOBE BRYANT “What I do, I do”

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The San Antonio Spurs redeemed themselves by beating LeBron James and the Miami Heat after five games in the NBA Finals. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Gregg Popovich can now celebrate their success while the on the other hand, a period of skepticism and uncertainty begins in Miami. Each of the Big Three holds an option to terminate his contract for next season and on top of that, it was clearly exposed that the Big Three are no longer invincible. This crystal clear loss to the Spurs might open to LeBron’s free agency and the Los Angeles Lakers have to take advantage of the opportunity.

Kobe

The Lakers are looking for a way to not just turn things around and do better next season but also for a way to solidify their future for the years to come. Kobe Bryant is 35 and he will have two or three years more ahead before he starts to seriously considering retirement. The Lakers have three players under contract for the upcoming season, Kobe, the 40 – year old Steve Nash and Robert Sacre. This seems to be the ideal time for Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers to make a strong push for LeBron. And as a matter of fact, they do stand good chances to land him.

KING JAMES

LeBron now knows that his chances to win more rings in Miami are getting thinner. The Big Three did what they could do together, they reached the NBA Finals in each of the seasons since they were formed and they also won two championships. However, in order for LeBron to continue winning while at the same time being a member of a big organization, living in an environment like Miami, LeBron might have to head elsewhere.

And the Los Angeles Lakers are a very appealing destination.

Of course, the Lakers will have to cook up a very clever plan for their future, one in which LeBron and Kobe can co-exist alongside a capable supporting cast. Mitch Kupchak has not even found the next head coach of the team. And LBJ will have to see a well-designed plan for success before he jumps in.

KOBE & LEBRON

For sure the Lakers can offer LeBron a maximum contract. However, a Kobe-LeBron duo will not be enough for the Lakers to win the championship and James will have that in mind when deciding about his next destination. The Lakers will have to carefully study all the possible scenarios and try to ensure that they will be able to not just bring LeBron in LA but ensure long-time success for him and the team
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Miami’s loss to the Spurs opened the window for the deformation of the Big Three and it instantly increased the Lakers’ chances to land King James. Of course, there will be several other teams willing to lure LeBron this summer. And ultimately, LeBron will be the one to choose which uniform he wants to wear next season. Nevertheless, the Lakers are certainly one of the top destinations for the best basketball player in the world.

You can follow Chris Cabrera on G+ or Twitter for tiny bits of wisdom.

There is no denying that the MVP title is a two-man one this year. LeBron James and Kevin Durant will be apparently fighting chest to chest till the end of the season for the award and at the moment, things look really tight. However, it’s worth taking a look at some of the black horses of this race. Although several players have been involved into the discussion for the MVP award this season, at the moment, Blake Griffin and Joakim Noah are the two best underdogs.

Noah is the main reason the Chicago Bulls have managed not only to save the 2013-2014 season but to also emerge up to the third spot in the Eastern Conference. The Frenchman center is doing it all for his team at the moment, playing defense, scoring, dishing assists and rebounding. Although Noah has literally no chances to make it to the top of list of MVP candidates, as LeBron and KD are playing in a whole different level, he is one of the most over performing players this season.

BLAKE

If there is one player who deserves to be considered as a third strong candidate for the MVP award this season, that is Blake Griffin. The highflying forward has not only improved his game in almost any aspect but he has also emerged as the true leader of the Los Angeles Clippers, taking the team on his shoulders during the time Chris Paul was out with an injury.

Griffin is averaging 24 points per contest, almost three more than his career-average and he is also securing 9.6 rebounds and dishing out 3.6 assists, while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor. He just recently got hurt, during the Clips’ last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he is projected to return to action soon and be ready for the Clips’ playoff push. Despite Griffin’s improvement, he will still not be able to reach the duo of LeBron and Durant.

LeBron is recording a career-best 57.0 percent shooting from the field and he is also putting up 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, which are too much for Griffin to get close. Durant is also recording similarly impressive numbers, maybe even more impressive. He is leading the NBA in scoring with 32.2 points per game and he is also putting up 7.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists. His shooting is also great but slightly lower than LeBron’s rates, 51.2 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from deep.
The MVP race will be coming to its end soon and we will see either Durant or LeBron earning the crown. However, we also have to recognize the efforts of players like Griffin and Noah. Chris M

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Can the Los Angeles Clippers Win the NBA Championships?

Doc Rivers is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. He was brought in because of his championship pedigree, however the Clippers have yet to break through to the Western Conference Finals. With a healthy “Big Three” of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, a steadily improving bench and the support of owner Steve Ballmer, the Clippers are poised to make it to their first ever NBA Finals.